Mountain Trek / Annapurna Region / Nepal

Poon Hill and Mohare Trek

5 days

Moderate

USD 900

A short escapade to the mesmerizing vantage points of Mohare and Poon Hill for stunning mountain views and breathtaking sunrise and sunset stretching over the horizon.

Overview

5 days Total Duration

Hile Trip Start Point

Ghandruk Trip Finish Point

3,310m/ 10,860ft (Mohare) Highest Point

Moderate Difficulty Level

A short escapade to the mesmerizing vantage points of Mohare and Poon Hill for stunning mountain views and breathtaking sunrise and sunset stretching over the horizon.

Highlights

	Scenic flight from Kathmandu - Pokhara - Kathmandu
	Panorama of Annapurna (10th highest in the world) and Dhaulagiri (7th highest) mountain ranges
	Spectacular sunrise over the mountains seen from Mohare and Poon Hill
	Thick Rhododendron forests, streams and waterfalls along the trails
	Gurung village of Ghandruk with great mountain views
	Exceptional views of mountains, Phewa lake and Pokhara city from the beautiful point of Raniban.

Is this trip for me?

Anybody with basic hiking experience and an active lifestyle can opt for the Poon Hill and Mohare Trek. The highest elevation you will reach is 3,310m (10,860ft), making the risk of altitude sickness very low. The gradient of the trail is mostly gradual uphill, with a few steep climbs. Nonetheless, we maintain a very comfortable hiking pace throughout the trek.

Accommodation during the trek is at basic mountain lodges. You will be accompanied by an experienced guide and porters to carry your luggage during the journey.

Best time to go

The weather in the Himalayas varies greatly based on altitude and season. The higher you ascend, the colder and more unpredictable the conditions become.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

JanFebMarAprMayJun

JulAugSepOctNovDec

Trekking in the Annapurna Region is matchless in spring (March to May). The weather is warm during the day and cold at night. The average daytime temperature is 12°C to 20°C (54°F to 68°F) and it can drop to freezing temperatures during night. The forests are green, and rhododendrons bloom, making the trail vibrant. It is a busy time of the year and the trails will be full of trekkers. It’s important to prebook the lodges.

This region receives a lot of rainfall in general, so monsoons will be extremely wet and humid, with temperatures ranging from around 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F). The downside of the monsoon is hovering clouds affecting visibility and slippery trails with leeches all along. The roads leading up to the trails can be affected by rockfall and landslides. While early June and late September are still advisable for trekking, July and August are out of the option. Not many people trek during the peak monsoon, so hotels aren’t fully operational.

It is the most popular time of the year to trek with clear skies, mild temperatures, and relatively stable weather conditions. The monsoon rains will have subsided, and visibility of the mountain ranges is excellent. There’s a perfect mix of greenery and colors in the hills and forests. Sunrise and sunsets are breathtaking. The temperatures range between 10°C to 20°C (50°F to 68°F) and drop lower with increasing elevation. As the region is very accessible, trails and lodges are extremely busy this time around.

Winter is a great time to trek in the lower Annapurnas. As we don’t reach significant elevation, the mountains look sparkling white on non-gloomy days. The temperatures go between 5°C to 15°C (41°F to 59°F) during daytime and can go lower at night. It is cold, but still very doable with the right preparation. Some parts of the trails can get slippery due to frost and patchy snow. The trails are not very busy and lodges are operational.

Group Size	Price per person*
2 people	USD 975
3 people	USD 900
4 - 7 people	USD 775
8 people and above	USD 680

	4 mountain lodges
	5 breakfasts
	Kathmandu-Pokhara-Kathmandu flights Reserved vehicle

Valid until Dec 31st, 2024

Prices for expats is less by USD 75

Prices for children is less by USD 50

See full price details

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Itinerary

Download Map

Day 1	Kathmandu - Pokhara - Hile - Banthanti
Day 2	Banthanti - Mohare Daanda
Day 3	Mohare Daanda - Banthanti
Day 4	Banthanti - Ghandruk
Day 5	Ghandruk - Pokhara - Kathmandu

Day 1

Kathmandu - Pokhara - Hile - Banthanti

Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara 25 mins

In the morning, we take a scenic flight from Kathmandu to the gorgeous Pokhara city that sits by Phewa Lake and is dwarfed by the Annapurna range.

Drive from Pokhara to Hile/Ulleri 2 to 3 hrs | 80km

A drive from Pokhara takes us to Hile, the starting point of the trek. (Note: If the flight gets delayed and we reach Pokhara later than 11:30 am, we drive directly to Ulleri. That way, we will make it to Banthanti before dark.)

Trek from Hile to Banthanti 3 to 4 hrs

We walk along the banks of the Modi River, passing several quaint villages, and after a steep uphill, we reach Ulleri. Banthanti, our camp for the night, is an hour further away.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Mountain Lodge

Day 2

Banthanti - Mohare Daanda

Trek from Banthanti to Mohare Daanda 6 to 7 hrs

Today is mostly gradual uphill through lovely, peaceful forests. Before we know it, we reach Ghorepani to have our lunch. Poon Hill is just one short but strenuous uphill away. Enjoy views of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna mountains from here and follow the ridge to Mohare Daanda (boasting even better views) on some of the finest trails.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Mountain Lodge

Day 3

Mohare Daanda - Banthanti

Trek from Mohare Daanda to Banthanti 5 to 6 hrs

Watch the magical sunrise with colors of the sky changing and revealing the mountains in all its grandeur. Behind you are rolling hills. We walk down towards Poon Hill and Ghorepani, and then on undulating trails along the forests passing several waterfalls and stream, we reach Banthanti.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Mountain Lodge

Day 4

Banthanti - Ghandruk

Trek from Banthanti to Ghandruk 2.5 to 3.5 hrs

It’s a short walk today, which leaves us with more time to explore Ghandruk. The trails today are mostly downhill through rhododendron forests, all the way to Ghandruk – a large Gurung settlement.

Explore Ghandruk

Gurung is an ethnicity of Nepal, with their own culture, dialect and lifestyle. Treat yourself some lazy time over tea/lunch gazing at the mountains or explore the town and visit the Gurung museum if you wish to.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Snowland Lodge Ghandruk

Day 5

Ghandruk - Pokhara - Kathmandu

Drive from Ghandruk to Pokhara airport

Drive from Ghandruk to Pokhara airport. Depending on the time, we will go for some sightseeing or to Lakeside for lunch before heading to the airport.

Fly from Pokhara Airport to Kathmandu 30 mins

A short but scenic flight back to Kathmandu watching the mountains you saw up close during the trek.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Expand | Download Map

Customize this trip

Take a heli back.

For those short on time or looking to add an exhilarating experience of flying over the majestic Himalayas, you have the option to charter a private helicopter on the way down. Inquire for prices and options!

Kathmandu Hotel and Transfers

USD 185 per person

Airport pick up and drop off, facilitated by an English-speaking representative
2 nights in a four-star hotel in Kathmandu (Hotel Shankar or similar) on bed & breakfast plan and twin-sharing basis

Accommodation & Logistics

Overnight accommodation included on this trip:

Mountain Lodge

Snowland Lodge Ghandruk

Sharing rooms Accommodation is on twin-sharing basis, which means there will be two people to a room. If you are travelling solo, we can assign a room partner (with someone of the same gender if you so prefer) or if you are travelling with someone you know, you can share the room with them. For families with kids, room allocation depends on your preference and room availability. A separate single room can be arranged for an additional charge – please find details in the Prices section above.

Battery Charging The charging station is usually at the reception area in the dining hall and each device is charged on a timely basis (e.g. USD 1-2 per hour). The rates are higher for more powerful devices (e.g. power bank, camera batteries, etc). A portable battery charger (15,000-20,000mAh) is highly recommended as it will allow you to charge your devices 3-4 times between recharging the battery pack at a teahouse.

Cellular Network For cell service, consider purchasing an international calling plan from your home cell service provider. Not only does this save you the hassle of searching for a local SIM card, but it also works just as effectively as the local networks. If you plan to get a sim card, Nepal Telecom (NTC) network works better in most areas compared to Ncell in most remote areas. Having said that, please bear in mind that the process of buying an NTC sim card is more time-consuming.

Wifi If you have a sim card or roaming service, you can buy an internet data pack. In several remote parts of Nepal, both the cell network and the internet can be patchy. Teahouses have local wifi installed in different parts of the Everest and Annapurna region. Rather than getting a prepaid card that they sell, we recommend purchasing wifi as per your need each night directly from the lodges. Please note that the internet can be very limited and slow.

Hot Showers Hot showers (solar/gas heated) are available for an extra fee. In elevations above 4000 meters, you only have the option of bucket shower.

Toilets Toilets are usually common to a floor and could either be western or squat style. In lower elevations, attached toilet options are available. However, the options get limited to shared toilets as we go higher (above 3000m/9850ft) and may not even have running water. Make sure to bring your own toilet paper and soap.

Transportation

City Flights Flights between Kathmandu and Pokhara operate throughout the day. The planes are bigger than the mountain aircrafts and accommodate 42-80 passengers. Buddha, Shree and Yeti Airlines are some of the common carriers.

Vehicle We provide reserved private vehicles to drive you around for pick-ups and drop-offs as per the itinerary. The vehicle type (car, jeep, van, etc) will be allocated depending on the number of people and terrain.

Food & Water

Food Lunch and dinner are left out from price includes to give you full flexibility on meals, depending on your appetite and preference. The lodges have a decent selection of food and drink options. For vegetarians and vegans, or if you have any other dietary requirements, please let us know at the time of booking so we can make arrangements.

Water Carrying your own water bottle/ hydration pack is mandatory. It is always best to have a bottle (1.5-2 liters) and a thermal flask (1 liter or smaller) during the trek. You can refill your bottle with boiled or bottled drinking water available at lunch spots and hotels. We highly discourage buying plastic water bottles during the trek for environmental reasons.

Snacks to carry It is recommended to bring snacks (like chocolates, dry fruits, etc) and energy bars to munch on during the trek.

Shops along the way You will come across several well-stocked shops on the trails (especially in the lower elevations) to buy water, snacks and toiletries. There are also shops selling tea and beverages in between lunch stops.

Crew

Guide One lead guide and assistant guides (depending on the number of trekkers) will accompany you on the trek. All our team members are highly experienced in the mountains, with adequate trail knowledge and first-aid training. Feel free to reach out to the team for any kind of queries or emergencies as we leave no stone unturned to give you a great mountain experience.

Porter A porter is someone who carries your luggage. They are generally locals of the region and will accompany you directly on the day of your trek. The maximum weight one porter carries is 25kgs/55lbs.

Money

Extra Costs to Expect Possible expenses, other than meals, could be drinks, laundry, tipping, and shopping. Please make sure you have read the Prices section thoroughly so you know what you might need to pay for while travelling.

Emergency Fund Our trips are planned to the last detail. However, there might be unforeseen circumstances arising from factors beyond our control (like political unrest, strikes, bad weather, natural calamities, bad road conditions, airport closures, flight cancellations, etc). For this reason, please set aside Rs. 20,000 as reserve fund.

Currency You are advised to carry the local currency (Nepali rupees) for the trails, as all the service providers transact in rupees.

ATMS and Credit cards In most areas outside the cities, cash is the more reliable and widely accepted payment method. While you will have the option to pay by card at some hotels and eateries in popular towns, it’s important to note that card transactions can sometimes be unreliable. Additionally, you will be charged an extra 3-4% transaction fee on top of the amount if you choose to pay by card. As for ATMs, you will come across a few in major towns but we recommend you to carry enough cash during the trek.

Tipping A service charge with tips is included by most hotels and eateries in their bills. You are welcome to give some gratuities to the trekking crew if you like their service. A good reference is around USD 10-15 per day for the guides and USD 5-10 per day for the porters. Feel free to tip higher if you love their service. You can tip either in Nepali rupees or US dollars. Generally, you chip in money as a group and tip your guides and porters on the last day of your trek over dinner.

Cancellations and Refund In case of flight delays/cancellations due to bad weather or unforeseen circumstances, we will reschedule at no extra cost. However, any extra cost incurred and extra charges because of the changes, including but not limited to transportation, accommodation and food, will be the responsibility of the trekker.

Health & Safety

Altitude sickness

We take altitude sickness very seriously and all our itineraries are designed to go on a slow pace, covering short distances as we go higher. With the increase in every thousand meters, we stay an extra night at the same stop or place with a similar elevation to acclimatize our bodies to the altitude.

During the trek, we will also take precautions by staying hydrated, avoiding alcohol consumption, and going for acclimatization hikes as needed. Our guide will check your vitals with oximeter every evening during the trek so we know how your body is reacting to the changing elevation. If you see any symptoms of AMS or have a headache, please contact our guide immediately. In most cases, mild headaches can be tackled with food, hydration and rest. We don’t recommend diamox (pills for altitude sickness) but you can take it as precaution starting a day or two before the trek if you are coming from sea level.

Trail Safety

Our guide will have a well-equipped first-aid kit at all times. Please go through our equipment and medical checklist for better preparedness as the common problems like foot blisters and knee pain can be tackled with proper packing. If you have any pre-existing health conditions, kindly let us know when booking.

Pack your passport, flight tickets, phone, wallet, camera equipment, cash, and all your valuables in your day pack or waist belt. Please don’t bring or carry expensive items like jewellery etc or a large sum of cash while travelling for security reasons.

Insurance You must obtain travel insurance for the trek. This should cover emergency evacuation (including helicopter rescue) and medical expenses up to 5,500m (18,044ft) above sea level.

Drinking Water Water safety is very crucial as one can easily contract waterborne diseases, and you don’t want that. We recommend drinking only boiled water or using one of steriPEN, LifeStraw, or purification tablets during the trek.

Immunization The immunizations recommended before trekking in Nepal are Hepatitis A, Typhoid fever, and chickenpox. There’s no specific checking but it is for your own safety.

Emergency Contacts If you have any issues or emergencies while trekking, please contact the lead guide or anyone from the team. They will help you contact the nearby hospitals, transport, ambulance, police office, army checkpoints, embassy, and even facilitate rescue operations. We will also send you a list of relevant emergency contacts before the trip.

Hiking and trekking with vonKathmandu has been the highlight of my life since moving to Nepal. The trek I went on with this company was an amazing experience and I can't say enough about how wonderful everything was planned.

Cameron Monti

VonKathmandu provides a personal touch. They want you to have a wonderful time because they are passionate about the mountains and trekking themselves.

Tom Pellens

They really went above and beyond to ensure we had an epic journey, from making sure we had all our needs met, to celebrating special occasions, to making sure we had the closest table to the warm stove!

Cabaku

I have used several other trekking guides in Nepal and although nearly all of them have been very good, vonKathmandu is the best.

Sally Templeton

I've been taking hikes with them for three years, and they just keep getting better. Always great views and great company. Totally recommend vonKathmandu.

Bindi Borg

We had a most outstanding 9 days trip to Mohare and around Pokhara. Congrats also for the very knowledgeable and smart organizational skills of team vonkathmandu that made these days very special to us. We will come back!

Stephan and Malena Grabherr

Von Kathmandu looked after every detail from the start to the end of our wonderful trek up to Kanjin at the top of the Langtang trail. We had an excellent guide (Ramesh Tamang who spoke good English and was extremely knowledgeable). We will come again and use their great services soon.

Andy Brown

The hike was absolutely fantastic. Great team, great views and landscape, professional organization, super care... You guys do a perfect job. It can't get more professional than that.

Carolin Spannuth Verma

Outside the busy season, we had the opportunity to sit with the locals around the wood fire ovens and to listen to their stories about bears raiding the village..

Sabrina Schmidt Koschella

And we received the best care ever from our guide Phura Sherpa as well as the porters Suresh and Uttarman. (While I don’t speak Nepali, I loved listening to Phura sing while we hiked. An added bonus!)

Anna Ruth

Amazing hikes with great people. You can tell a lot of thought and planning goes into creating the most interesting route possible.

Chris Hofmann

Good friendly and safety conscious guides and the bonus is that the guides are snapping away all day taking high quality photos which they share after the walk.

David Masters

They were well-organized, effective, and fun in their approach!

Sonya Martin

Super well organized- you don’t have to think- just enjoy the incredible scenery. Great chance to meet new folks. What a great way to spend the day- out of the city in nature.

Kimberly Waller

Vonkathmandu knows how to accommodate your wishes and tailors the programme accordingly with great flexibility and a personal touch. We had a great trek to Pikey Peak!

Arjanne Rietsema

They know the best trails in Kathmandu valley, honed with week after week of recce hiking. Together they bring some of the best crew and do not compromise on the quality of service.

Raj Gyawali

The thing that I love about vonKathmandu is that they take care of each and every small detail for you, you just have to show up for an adventure. They know the hills / mountains, they know the good spots to take in the views and they really make the whole thing worth your while.

Shruti Sharma

Throughout the whole trip I always felt well supported by vonKathmandu, whenever I had a question they answered it right away and they were always caring about how I was doing. I would highly recommend to do your Nepal trip with those guys, they are just great

Milan Marck

Glad to discover new places to hike through local villages and the different ridges, very professionally done from the pre-trip info, briefing, logistics etc! Thank you!

Katherine Mah

Huge fan of the day hikes! They offer a fantastic break from the city to hike for hours through beautiful, pristine landscapes, but you still sleep in our own bed afterwards.

Erika Hoffman

Well organized, friendly people, great safe trails and you get to meet lots of interesting people. Plus the views are always spectacular!

Tara Ealy

Stunning views of sprawling terraces and seas of yellow mustard flowers. Highly recommend, and will be certain to travel through von Kathmandu on my next trip.

Nathaniel Glidden

Amazing experience! One of the most beautiful hikes I’ve been on, and I never would have been able to find it by myself.

Anna Hamilton

Fun hike, the crew members are very accommodating participants' needs, well-organised, great way to discover the beauty of the Valley. Highly recommended!

Pungky Utami

Great team and amazing landscapes! Highly recommend this experience. Very well prepared guides were always kind and helpful.

Gabriel de Carvalho Morand

Perfect intro to the wonders of Kathmandu Valley and surrounding moutain ridges. A nice, friendly and well organised group.

Rob Fielding

While the landscape and Sherpa culture alone are enough to leave one in awe, solid planning and logistics support on behalf of VonKathmandu staff enabled me to enjoy the trek without worrying about details.

Andrew Bovino

My family and I have been coming on hikes with vonKathmandu for around two years and we've enormously enjoyed every hike! It's one of our favourite things to do in Kathmandu.

Noemi H

We have loved these hikes around the Kathmandu valley; always well organised and good fun. A great way to get out and explore the culture and geography, and create good friendships.

Simon Townsend

Great outing, perfect organization! Highly recommended!!

Laura B

•	Free Wi-Fi	•	Room Service	•	Private Bathroom
•	Hot Shower	•	Towels	•	Slippers
•	Power Socket	•	Daily Housekeeping

•	Restaurant and Bar	•	Garden	•	Outdoor Seating
•	Mountain Views

	Accommodation 1 night in Snow Land Lodge [sharing basis] 3 nights in mountain lodges [sharing basis]
	Transportation Two-way flight (Kathmandu - Pokhara - Kathmandu) Drive from Pokhara airport to Hile (Day 1) Drive from Ghandruk to Pokhara airport (Day 5) Airport pick up and drop off
	Food 5 breakfasts in total
	Crew An experienced guide and an assistant guide with medical kit Porters throughout the trip on a twin sharing basis Salary, room, board, insurance and any expenses for all crew members
	Permits ACAP Permit TIMS Permit
	Misc Government taxes

•	Hiking Boots with a good grip
•	Rain gear (for you and your bag)
•	Comfortable hiking pants
•	Quick dry, breathable T-shirts
•	Windproof Jacket
•	Sleepwear
•	Trekking Socks (thick)
•	Underwear
•	Neck buff/ gaiter
•	Sun hat/cap

•	Downjacket
•	Thermals (top and bottom)
•	Fleece jacket
•	Sleeping bag
•	Sleeping bag liner
•	Gloves
•	Woolen hat/beanie

•	Day bag
•	Duffel bag (for porter)
•	Quick dry towel
•	Extra pair of shoes (preferably, slip-ons)
•	Water bottle or camel bladder (1.5 litres).
•	LifeStraw filter or purification tablets
•	Flask (for hot water)
•	Walking Poles
•	Sunglasses (Polarized, with good UV protection)
•	Locks for your backpack/luggage
•	Waist belt
•	A pair of binoculars
•	Trail snacks and energy bars

•	Head lamp (with extra batteries)
•	Camera with charger and extra batteries
•	Phone with charger
•	Power bank
•	Travel adapter (type C, D and M)

•	Sunscreen (SPF 30 or above)
•	Sanitizer
•	Wet wipes
•	Toiletries (incl toilet papers, soap, etc)
•	Personal first aid kit
•	Rehydration salts/tablets
•	Throat lozenges
•	Prescription Medications
•	Lipbalm (SPF 30 or above)

•	Passport with visa
•	A copy of Work ID (for expats)
•	A copy of Insurance papers
•	Permits (carried by guide)
•	Flight tickets (carried by guide)
•	Money
•	Credit Card

Poon Hill and Mohare Trek

Overview

Highlights

Is this trip for me?

Best time to go

Itinerary

Customize this trip

Take a heli back.

Kathmandu Hotel and Transfers

Prices

My Own Room

Includes

Accommodation

Transportation

Food

Crew

Permits

Misc

Excludes

My Own Room

Extra Expenses

Important Details

Accommodation & Logistics

Mountain Lodge

Snowland Lodge Ghandruk

Transportation

Food & Water

Crew

Money

Health & Safety

Checklist

What to pack

Outfit

Warmth

Accessories

Electronics

Toiletries & Meds

Documents & Money

How to pack

Duffel Bag

Day Bag

Responsible Travel

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